Wire-stretcher.



PATENTED JAN. 3, 1905. G. W. HABLAN.

WIRE STRETGHER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 17, 1904.

@Vitmum No. 779,218.y PATENTED JAN. 3, 1905.

- G.,W. HABLAN.

WIRE STRETGHER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 17, 1904.

UNITED STATES Patented January 3, 1905.

PATENT OEEICE.

WIRE-STRETCHER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 779,218, dated January3, 1905.

` Application iilerl May 17, 1904. Serial No. 208,436.

T0 a/ZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE WILLIAM HAR- LAN, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Otterville, in the county of Oooper and State ofMissouri, have invented new and useful Improvements in Wire Stretchers,of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements inwire-stretchersespeciallyadapted for use in stretching wire fabric such as used in theconstruction of fences; and its object is to provide means whereby thefabric can be quickly and thoroughly stretched by one operator.

The invention consists of a pivoted lever which is adapted to beconnected to a fixed post or other like object and which hasoppositely-disposed hooked arms connected thereto at opposite sides ofthe pivot and which are normally held in proper relation to each otherby a'spring connecting the same.

The invention also consists of means for automatically moving the hookedarms into engagement with the object to be gripped thereby.

The invention also consists of the further novel construction andcombination of parts hereinafter more fully described and claimed, andillustrated in the accompanying drawings, showing the preferred form ofmy invention, and in which- Figure l isa ers aective view showinuV mimproved-wire-stretcher applied to a fence fabric. Fig. 2 is a plan viewof the stretcher. Fig. 3 is a section on line 3 3, Fig. 2; and Fig. 4 isa plan view of the arms and a portion of the lever, parts of said armsand the telescoping connecting-rodsbeing shown in section.

Referring' to the figures by numerals of reference, l is a lever havinga socket 2 at one end, in which is arranged a handle 3.Oppositely-disposed semicircular extensions t are formed integral withthe lever l, and at the center of the circle formed by these extensionsis a pivot-pin 5, on which is arranged a yoke 6, having a chain 7secured to it. rl`his chain has a hook 8 at its free end. A curved strip9 is formed concentric with one of the extensionst and is connectedthereto by means of arms 10, and this strip 9, as well as the extensionA to which it is connected, is slidably mounted within similaroppositely-disposed arms l1, having hooked claws l2 at their free ends.Screws 13 are adjustably mounted within the lever 1 at opposite ends ofthe strip 9 and are provided with thumb-nuts 14, by means of which theymay be readily locked in adjusted position.

A slotted rod 15 is pivoted to one of the arms 11 and has a threaded end16, adapted to project into an oppositely-screw-threaded sleeve 17,which also engages the threaded end of a rod 18. This rod is pivoted tothe other arm 1l. The pins 19, forming thepivots of the rods l5 and 18,also serve as means for securing the ends of a coiled spring' 20 to thearms I1.

When it is desired to stretch wire fabric, strips 2l, of wood or othermaterial, are clamped on opposite faces thereof, and a chain 22 or otheriexible object is fastened to the central portion of the strips 21.Chain 7 is then looped about a fixed post 23 and is secured in place byplacing hook 8 in engagement with one of the links of the chain. Chain22 is then placed in engagement with the hooked claws 12 and the lever lis swung backward and forward upon its pivot-pin 5. When the lever ismoved in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 2, the forwardly-extending'arm 1l will draw chain 22 longitudinally,while at the same time the rods15 and 18 will swing the other arm 1l over said chain and over thehooked claw in front thereof and will cause the claw to contact with andautomatically grip the chain in advance of the first-mentioned arm 1l.This automatic engagement bythe claws is produced by the spring 20. Itwill thus be seen that the continual operation of the lever l will causethe chain 22 to be drawn gradually tward the post 23, and thereforestrips 21 will also be drawn toward it and the wire fabric connected tothe strip will be pulled taut. rI`he adjustable screws I3 abut againstthe arms Il when lever l nears the limits of its movement, and thereforeserve to positively move the arms 11 toward the chain 22 when the sameis to be engaged thereby.

In the foregoing description I have shown IOO the preferred form of myinvention; butI do not limit myself thereto, as 'I am aware thatmodiications may be made therein without departing from the spirit orsacrificing any of the advantages thereof.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new isl. Thecombination with a lever fulcrumed between its ends; of hooked armspivoted to the lever at opposite sides of its fulcrum, a springconnection between the arms, and means for limiting the movement of thearms in opposite directions. 2. The combination with a lever fulcrumedbetween its ends; of hooked arms pivoted to the lever at opposite sidesof its fulcrum, a spring connection between the arms, and supportingmeans for the arms connected to the lever.

3. The combination with a lever fulcrumed between its ends; of hookedarms pivoted to the lever at opposite sides of its fulcrum, a springconnection between the arms, supporting means for the arms connected tothe lever, and adjustable arm-contacting devices upon the lever.

4. The combination with a lever fulcrumed at a point between its ends;of oppositely-extending arms pivoted to the lever at opposite sides ofits fulcrum, said arms having' hooked claws, a slotted rod pivoted toone of the arms,

a rod pivoted to the other arm, an adjustable connection between therods, and a spring connection between the arms.

5. The combinationv with a lever fulcrumed at a point between its ends;of oppositely-extending arms pivoted to the lever at opposite sides ofits fulcrum, said arms having hooked claws, a slotted rod pivoted to oneof the arms, a rod pivoted to the other arm, an adjustable connectionbetween the rods, means for limiting the movement of the rods inopposite directions, and a spring connection between the arms.

6. The combination with a lever fulcrumed at a point between its ends;of oppositely-extending arms pivoted to the lever at opposite sides ofits fulcrum, said arms having hooked claws, a slotted rod pivoted to oneof the arms, a rod pivoted to the other arm and adjustably connected tothe first-mentioned rod, an armsupporting device extending from thelever, a spring connection between the arms, means for limiting themovement of the arms in op posite directions, and arm-contacting devicesadjustably connected to the lever.

vIn testimony whereof I ailix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE WILLIAM HABLAN.

W'itnesses:

L. P. FAIRFAX, J. H. GUNN.

